Historic Building Ordinance Weighed

EAST WINDSOR — Selectmen have asked for more information while they consider a proposed ordinance to delay demolition of historic buildings in town.

The ordinance, proposed by the local historical commission, would give town officials an opportunity to speak with a developer or property owner who is considering razing a building.

The proposed ordinance would require the town to let the historical commission know when a demolition permit is requested for a building of 50 years or older. The commission would then have about 15 days to tell the town if the property is historically significant, historical commission Chairman Barbara Smigiel said.

``This is also more work for our commission,'' Smigiel said. ``We have to be more vigilant. We will have to do more work.''

The commission has listed about 285 structures in the town as having historical significance. There are 35 communities in Connecticut that have adopted similar ordinances since 1993.

Selectman Alfred Regina asked for more information on how such ordinances have been used in some of the other communities.

It would give the historical commission 90 days to negotiate with the developer to save or move the building, officials said. It also gives the commission time to raise awareness in the community about the building.

``There is no way we can prevent a structure from coming down,'' Smigiel said. ``This is not designed for us to prevent destruction of these properties.''

The ordinance would give the commission enough advance notice about proposed demolitions, which it does not routinely get, Smigiel said.

``This is strictly a communication tool,'' Smigiel said. ``It's not a way for us to shove historical preservation down someone's throat.''

Building Official Rand Stanley said the town has to be careful of how the ordinance is structured. In one case he knows of that occurred in another town, he said, a similar ordinance delayed for months the razing of a 50-year-old garage that had no real historical value.

Stanley said he thinks historic properties in town should be listed.

``I do believe it's important to protect the heritage of the town,'' Stanley said. ``None of us really own a property, we caretake it.''